Special Service and Features
Pre-Event Curtain Raiser Press Release
2nd G20 Development Working Group Meeting under Indian Presidency in the tranquil backwaters of Kumarakom, Kerala
The 2nd meeting of G20 Development Working Group  is being convened from 6 - 9 April 2023 against the backdrop of the tranquil backwaters of Kumarakom in the district of Kottayam, Kerala. Over 80 delegates from G20 Members, 9 invitee countries, and various international and regional organizations will be attending the meeting.
The formal DWG meeting will be preceded by a side event on data for development, lifestyle for environment, and just green transitions on 6th April 2023. The participants would include several high-profile experts and speakers from IOs, academia, think tanks and civil society. The discussions at the side event will set the tone for the DWG on 7-9 April 2023 and address questions on the gaps in capacity building on D4D and the role of governments, civil society and private sector in developing capacity on Data for Development, and how can different stakeholders, including within the G20, support D4D capacity building in developing countries. On LiFE, the experts would deliberate on the questions on key global actions for boosting sustainable production that can create green ecosystems and infrastructure to empower individuals and the possible international financial instruments for unlocking financing for promoting sustainable lifestyles and intrinsic interlinkages between the development and environment including climate agenda. On Just green transitions the panelists would discuss the process of making green transitions globally just, and promoting a development paradigm which reduces the trade-offs between development, environment and climate agendas.
The formal proceedings will be inaugurated by Secretary  of the Ministry of External Affairs, Shri. Dammu Ravi on 7 April 2023.
DWG as the custodian of the development agenda of G20 and in line with Indian G20 Presidency’s theme of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Earth One Family One Future”, would try to find all-encompassing and inclusive solutions and collective actions to address the diverse global development challenges of the day.
The developmental agenda is taking prominence and centerstage during India’s G20 Presidency, especially in the wake of the impacts of the ongoing multiple crises, which are setting back progress on the 2030 Agenda, deepening inequalities and accentuating environmental and climate risks, and in the process disproportionately affecting the developing countries.
Over the next 4 days detailed discussions will be held on various development priorities proposed by India which are likely to feed into Development Ministerial Meeting in June, including deliberating on a G20 Action Plan to Accelerate Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals including Capacity Building Network on Data for Development, and the G20 High-level Principles on Lifestyle for Environment that will provide the necessary political thrust and momentum to the efforts on achieving the 2030 Agenda.
On the margins of the DWG meeting, India’s DWG Co-Chairs – Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretaries Mr. K. Nagaraj Naidu and Ms Eenam Gambhir will also hold several bilateral discussions with counterparts from G20 and Guests.
In association with the Government of Kerala, the G20 delegates will also witness the cultural richness & diversity and unique Indian culinary experience providing them a glimpse into the rich heritage of Kerala. As part of ‘Jan-Bhagidhari’, students and experts from Kerala would get to participate in the side event and also present the cultural performances to the delegates. Several senior dignitaries from the Government of Kerala would also attend the social events.
Kumarakom, Kottayam
5 April 2023